Nostalgia on wheels will roll into Auburn as the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival returns from Aug. 29-31, although pre-festival events around the community begin Aug. 24

In an interview with Whatzup, Leslie Peel, the festival’s executive director, described the festival as a “mix of old and new” that brings a great deal of excitement to the area. She also noted the collaboration between car lovers, volunteers, and festivalgoers has been essential in the festival’s success and growth as it nears its seventh decade.

“We work very closely with Auburn Cord Duesenberg Club who bring their cars into town,” she said. “I talk with them all year long, with their reunion chair. It is really now, more than ever, a collaboration, which is just fantastic because I feel like the community is even more engaged than they’ve ever been in the festival. 

“It’s our 68th year, but I really feel like it just gets bigger and better each year.”

On a mission

According to Peel, this collaboration began nearly seven decades ago when a group of classic car owners wanted to meet up in Auburn, the city where their cars were manufactured. 

From then on, this annual reunion grew and became a regional tradition. 

Eventually, the ACD Club raised money for a museum to promote the history of the classics as the festival continued.

“Our job as the festival now is really to promote and celebrate automotive heritage,” Peel said. “That’s why we were created. So that’s our mission.”

Global event

The festival offers car fanatics and attendees of all ages and interests several opportunities to encounter classic cars. 

A highlight among these, Peel said, will be Saturday’s free Ticket to Ride, where kids can take a ride in a classic car “they may not ever have a chance to ride in.” 

This, in addition to an ice cream social on Friday evening, are only two of numerous events for families. 

Peel said people from all over the world come to the festival, some even flying from the Netherlands last year and a few traveling from Australia this year. 

“I just think it’s really cool when you have people from all over the world come and you can share that with them,” she said. “It seems like such a little thing for us, but to them, it’s huge. … It’s just neat to see that it’s not just a Midwest thing. We have people literally coming from all over the world to come to these museums, to enjoy the weekend, and just to be around the cars and the people.”

Highlights

Last year, Peel said some people actually camped out in their car to get a good spot for the Downtown Cruise-In. Set for Friday at 10 a.m., the Cruise-In allows owners of cool cars — regardless of make and model — to display their prowess for a gathering that has garnered around 700 vehicles in years past.

“They slept in their car so that they could get a spot around Courthouse Square,” she said. “That, to me, when you see those cars lined up for miles and miles and they’ve been there for hours to get around that courthouse, that’s pretty amazing. 

“If I had to pick something during the festival, that’s probably one of my favorites just because that really gets you excited.”

As with most events at the festival, the cruise-in is free for spectators. It closes with live music downtown with Sunglasses at Night at 6:15 p.m. followed by The Hubie Ashcraft Band.

The crown jewel of the festival, the Parade of Classics, takes place Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. In this annual fan favorite, ACD Club members from around the world take to the streets with their classics through the streets of Auburn.

Again, music closes things with Reload taking the downtown stage at 6 p.m. followed by Rekt.

“There’s so much happening,” Peel said. “It’s not just our downtown events. … We have award-winning museums. We have multiple museums here. The (Auburn Auction) is right around the corner, that’s happening at the same time, which brings thousands of people. 

“We have everything downtown. There’s just so much to do. I really feel like there’s a lot to appeal to everyone. But then our town is just really cool. You know, we’re the home of the classics for a reason, and this small town just is bustling over that weekend with so many people and these cars driving around. I just think it’s a really cool community atmosphere.”

For a full listing of events, go to the festival website at acdfestival.org.